I just re-read my Fright Night Review

So... I just re-read my Fright Night review and I still feel that I hit the nail on the head. The reboot of Fright Night was atrocious. Still pisses me off what a terrible job everyone involved did (Except for Chris Sarandon. He was and always shall remain one kick ass cool dude impervious to rebuke.). It also got me to thinking that a few years ago when the first murmurs of a reboot were being bounced around the internet, I myself came up with an idea for the movie. I thought it was a stupid idea (even then) to try to redo the same movie. Instead I thought it would be a real hoot to instead make a third Fright Night and to follow the story's natural timeline of what may have happened after Fright Night II. I'd be much more interested in seeing a present day Charley Brewster dealing yet again with vampires. Especially since so many years have passed, he would have most likely become 'comfortable' with life. Probably would have stopped avoiding darkened alleys and looking over his shoulder. I still giggle at the idea of getting to see the same old gang of characters being pulled back into the eerie world of sultry / scary vampires and goofy / terrifying werewolves!! (That's right, youngsters, check out FN2 for one of the all time coolest werewolves around!)

So without further adieu or anymore nostalgic rhetoric, here's my stellar idea for ... 

FRIGHT NIGHT III!!

Let's start out with a middle aged, divorced, 'working dad' Charlie Brewster with a couple kids. Say a teenage daughter and a pre-teen son who's inherited his dad's appetite for vampire literature. 

Charlie has hidden what transpired with both Jerry and Regine Dandrige when he was a teenager to protect his family. His son stumbles onto some questionable characters, believing them to be a cool, fringe group: maybe goths or vampire 'role players'. Charley's son is enamored of the new clique and wants to be a part of that world, believing it's just some role playing game similar to Vampire: The Masquerade.

Father Charlie finds out too late that his son has gotten drawn into the world of real life vampires. He starts to investigate and realizes that the head vamp is his old HS girlfriend Amy who was turned vamp by, IDK, maybe Gerry's cousin (LOL). She's come back to exact revenge on Charlie (through his son) for killing her immortal love Gerry before she even knew he was her soul mate.

Unfortunately Roddy McDowell (RIP) can't reprise the role of Peter Vincent. Maybe earlier in the story Charlie learns of the passing of Peter and it gets him thinking of all their vampire killing days. He could find through the course of the story that Amy killed Peter Vincent as part of her master plan to make Charlie suffer.

Now, I'd WATCH THAT MOVIE! Not only does this sound like a logical progression in the story, it also has the potential to be scary and fun. AND, it has a hint of the nostalgia that we love about the original two movies. I say it's of the utmost importance to keep with the theme and atmosphere of what made the original movies SO damned good. Bring back Ragsdale, bring back Bearse. And by God, bring back Sarandon!

DreamWorks to Remake Fright Night

I know this has pretty much nothing to do with the Twilight Saga except for the fact that Fright Night is a vampire movie too.

As a matter of fact, Fright Night is one damn fine vampire movie. It's smart, it's funny and unlike anything that Twilight will serve up, it's briefly scary as hell. Chris Sarandon (yes, ex-hubby of Susan Sarandon) was the epitome of a virile, hunting vampire. As the vampire Jerry Dandrige he was sexy, alluring and frightening. And Charlie Brewster (William Ragsdale), the delightful protagonist, is as light and dismissible as his name suggests. He's just a regular horny teenager whose only preoccupations are the horror movies playing on the late night TV show 'Fright Night' hosted by a perfectly cowardly Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowell) and getting into his girlfriend Amy's pants (Amanda Bearse). Until he gets it into his mind that the neighbor who just moved in is a vampire.

If you haven't seen Fright Night, for Heaven's sake, go rent it. You obviously have some minor infatuation with vampires since you're reading a Twilight blog. I promise, you won't be disappointed. I consider Fright Night one of the all time best vampire movies ever made. Of course, I really appreciate the creepiness interspersed with comedy. Actually I should say the comedy interspersed with creepiness. And if you are feeling especially daring, rent Fright Night II while you're at it. It's just as good as the first one, and completely different. No rehashing there! Maybe you'll become a fan.

Now, the reason I've brought this up is because DreamWorks Entertainment has taken it upon themselves to remake Fright Night (story here). I'm perturbed by this. It annoys me that production companies are taking perfectly good movies, gnashing them up and regurging them just to turn a profit.

Occasionally remakes excite me because I can visualize how a revamping (no pun) would bring something new to them. But that's not the case with Fright Night. It's perfect the way it is. There's no elaborate CGI involved of course. It was made way before all that (1985). But the hard work put into the special effects are evident, a very good job for the times. And it fits seamlessly with the spirit of the movie. The acting is superb, no need for improvement there. That leaves me wondering if DreamWorks is trying to cash in on the increasing popularity of the vampire flick.

Chris Sarandon as Jerry Dandrige


You may not realize this, but there is now and always will be an undercurrent of vampire fanaticism going on in one form or another. Whether it's through literature, movies, music, folk lore enthusiasts or role players (Vampire: The Masquerade), vampires aren't going anywhere. But right now, thanks to Anne Rice, Stephenie Meyer, Charlaine Harris, Laurell K. Hamilton and a host of other vampire novelist, the popularity of the romantic vampire is cresting. This popularity will wane, probably all too soon for those of us who just love the vampire for the creature that he is, in any form.

For that reason alone, I can't totally oppose the remaking of Fright Night. All though in my mind Fright Night will always stand as a testament to what a well made vamp flick can be, I will of course be one of the first freaks in line to see DreamWork's reboot. Because ultimately, as long as all these attempts keep the heat and focus on the ever addictive vampire and the horror genre in general, I'm down with that.

Related reading: Vampire Guide

Sexy Fright Night Chris Sarandon Dance Scene

Hello fellow vamp lovers! I got to thinking about it and figured it couldn't be too hard to find the sexy Fright Night dance scene. Low and behold, youtube to the rescue!

Check it out:



That's what I was talking about. Yeah, it has a corniness factor, but it's HOT too!